Keyless lock mechanism



Jan. 26, 1932. w. J. BUETTNER I 1,843,013

I KEYLESS LOCK MECHANISM K Filed May 11, 1931 all i INVENTOR ATTO RN EYS Patented Jan. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM J. BUETTNER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNQR OF ONEHALFTTO ABRAH GOLDMAN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN KEYLESS LOCK MECHANISM Application filed May 11, 1931.

ed from the exposed handle, and a coupling of these parts is necessary in order that the bolt may be operated. The invention provides a simple and effective means for making the coupling, by a combination of movements of the handle known only to the owner or other authorized persons. The device differs from the conventional combination lock in that it requires no dial and index, the proper movements being determined by counting the number of clicks of a pawl over a ratchet embodied in the device.

A large number of combinations of move ments are possible in a series of locks by dif ferently assembling the parts thereof. Thus, in a large number of locks of the same general construction there need not be any significant repetition of the same operating com bination'. v The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional view of a closure member equipped with a lock mechanism according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the lock mechanism; v

Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged sections on the lines 33 and 4-4. respectively of Figure 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the apertured disks; and

Fig. 6 is a detail longitudinal sectlon. Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout. In Figure 1 is shown aclosure member 1 such as, for example, the door of an automobile body, although it will be understood that the invention is not limited to such an instal- Serial No. 536,452. I

lation but is applicable generally to all cases where a keyless lock may be desirable. In the illustrated construction, however, the closure member 1 carries a slidable bolt 2 adapted for locking engagement with a conventional form of keeper. The mechanism for actuating the bolt includes a shaft 3 which, when turned, may release the bolt from its keeper, and the linkage between this shaft and the bolt is conventional and fore not-illustrated.

The member 1 is formed with a transverse bore 4 which accommodates the coupling mechanism between an external operating member and the shaft 3. The external operating member in this case is a handle 5 having a stem 6 received in the outer end of the bore '4. The same end of the bore is also equipped with a retaining ring 7 having an inwardly, extending flange 8' received 1n a there peripheral groove 9 formed in the stem 6, I whereby the handle is rotatably mounted and held against moving lengthwise of the bore. K

In the inner end of the bore 4 is mounted a barrel 10 havinga plug 11 fitted in theinner end thereof. The plug receives a portion of the shaft 3 as shown in Figure 2, and the shaft, plug and barrel are secured together j by a pin 12 driven through these parts. The I barrel may therefore be conceived as having a solid inner end permanently connected with the actuating mechanism for the bolt 2.

Into the stem 6 of the handle 5 is fitted an I operating shaft 13, preferably square, and

held by a pin 13. .This shaft extends a considerable distance into the barrel 10 and is' normally disengaged from the plug 11. It may nowbe seen that the operation of the bolt 2 from thehandle 5 depends on the coupling of the shaft 13 with'the plug 11 or shaft mounted a coupling member 14 having :1. lug or tooth 15 extending therefrom in the direction towards the plug 11. The latter is formed with a notch 16 adapted to receive the lug 15 under certain conditions, but this en-' gagement is normally obstructed by a plurality of disks 17 and 18 mounted in the barrel 10 between the members 14 and 11. The outermost disk rests against an internal shoulder 19 formed in the barrel 10, and the openings 22 in which is mounted a coil spring 23 having its ends 24 anchored in the respective disks in such a manner as to throw the lugs 20 thereof against the ends of the slot 21. The disks are further formed with apertures 25 which, under the normal action of the spring 23, are out of register with each other as shown more clearly in Figure 4. The

bodies of the disks 17. 18 have a combined thickness greater than the width of the slot 21, as shown in Figure 6. so that the disks .are prevented from entering or falling through the slot, particularly when the latter has an arcuate extent of more than 180.

The outer end of the barrel 10 is formed 1 with a ratchet 26 having a blank space 27 for a purpose which will presently be described. ()n the shaft 13 is mounted a pawl in the form of a plug 28 entering the barrel 10 and having a single tooth 29 normally lying in the blank space 27. A spring 30 inserted between the stem 6 and the plug 28 normallv holds the pawl yieldingly against the ratchet. A lighter spring 31 is inserted between the members 28 and 14 to place the latter under pressure towards thedisks 18, 19.

A cam slot 32 is cut in the barrel 10 and has two sloped edges 33 converging towards the solid'end of the barrel. A pin 34 extends from the barrel into the cam slot and is acted upon by the sloped edges 33 to withdraw the tooth 15 from the notch 16 except when these parts are propcrlv coupled. The barrel is further formed with an internal arcuate groove 35 connecting the ends of the cam slot 32 for permitting a complete rotary movement of the projecting end of the pin 34.

In the operation of the device, assuming that the parts are mounted in the relation illustrated, the handle 5 is first turned to the left until the tooth 15 enters the aperture 25 of the nearer disk 17. During this adjustment of the handle, there is a click for each ratchet tooth passed by the pawl tooth 29.

Such a click occurs simultaneously with the entrance of the tooth 15 into the aperture 25 and thus renders indistinguishable any noise that may result from this entrance. The position of the handle 5 permitting entrance of the tooth 15 into the aperture 25 is determined by a predetermined number of clicks of the pawl tooth 29 in passing from the blank space 27 over the ratchet teeth, and this number of clicks is known only to authorized persons.

After the lug 15 has thus entered the aperture 25 of the first disk 17, the handle is turned in the reverse direction or to the left, whereby the first disk now turns with the shaft 13 and member 14. This movement ii continued until the tooth 15 enters the aper ture 25 of the next disk 18, under conditions similar to those already described. As many disks 17, 18, may be provided as desired. After the tooth 15 has passed through the aperture 25 ofthe last disk, the handle 5 is again turned, in this case to the left, until the tooth 15 enters the notch 16 under the action of the spring 31. Continued turning of the handle in the same direction now turns the shaft 3 and operates the bolt 2, since the shaft 13 is coupled to the plug 11 and shaft 3.

One of the walls 36 of the notch 16 is parallel to the axis of the shaft, and the opposite wall 37 is inclined thereto, thus if the handle is turned in the wrong direction after the lug 15 enters the notch 16, the lug will merely ride over the sloped wall 37 and out of the notch to break the coupling. The sloped edges 33 of, the cam slot 32 also tend to draw the tooth 15 away from the disks if the handle is turned any considerable distance, except when it is properly turned in the manner described to enter the lug 15 successively into the apertures 25 of the disks 17 18.

The combination of movements of the handles 5 of various locks maybe varied by making the slots 21 thereof of different lengths or by differently positioning the blank space 27 from which the counting is started. In addition, the successive disks 17, 18 may be differently positioned so that the initial movement of the handle 5 may be to the right rather than to the left. By the use of such variations,'a large number of locks of difi'er the details of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. In a lock mechanism, a lock operating member, an operating shaft adapted to be coupled to said member and normally disengaged therefrom, a plurality of apertured disks rotatably mounted between said memher and shaft, the apertures of said disks being normally out of register with each other, said shaft having a member adapted, on turning of the shaft, to enter and aline said apertures and pass through the alined apertures to couple with the first named member.

2. In a lock mechanism, a lock operating member, an operating shaft adapted to be will be understood that various alterations in coupled to said member and normally disen gaged therefrom, a plurality of apertured disks rotatably mounted between said member and shaft, the apertures of said disks being normally out of register with each other,

said shaft having a member adapted, on turning of the shaft, to enter and aline said apertures and pass through the alined apertures to couple with the first named member, a fixed 1 ratchet, and a pawl carried by said shaft and in engagement with said ratchet, whereby the registration of said second named mem ber with said apertures may be determined by counting the ratchet teeth passed by said pawl.

3. In a lock mechanism, a lock operating member, an operating shaft adapted to be coupled to said member and normally disengaged therefrom, a plurality of apertured disks rotatably mounted between said member and shaft, springs acting on said disks to set the apertures thereof out of register with each other, said shaft having a member adapted, on turning of the shaft, to enter and aline said apertures and pass through the alined apertures to couple with the first named member.

4. In a lock mechanism, a rotatably mounted barrel, an operating shaft rotatably mounted in one end thereof, the other end of the barrel being plugged and adapted for coupling to a lock to operate the same, said plugged end having a notch, a plurality of apertured disks rotatably mounted between said shaft and plugged end, the apertures of said disks being normally out of register with each other, said shaft having a member adapted, on turning of the shaft; to enter and aline said apertures and pass through the alined apertures and into said notch, whereby to couple said shaft to said barrel.

, 5. In a lock mechanism, a rotatably mount-- 7 ed barrel, an operating shaft rotatably mounted in one end thereof, the other end of the barrel being plugged and adapted for coupling to a lock to operate the same, said plugged end having a notch, a plurality of apertured disks rotatably mounted between said shaft and plugged end, the apertures of said disks being normally out of register with each other, said shaft having a' member adapted, on turning of the shaft, to enter and aline said apertures and pass through the alined apertures and into said notch, whereby to couple said shaft to said barrel, one wall of said notch being parallel to the axis of said shaft and the opposite wall being inclined thereto, whereby said shaft may drive said barrel'in only one direction.

6. In a lock mechanism, a rotatably mounted barrel, an operating shaft rotatably mount- 2 "ed in one end thereof, the other end of the barrel being pluggedand adapted for couv pling to a lock to operate the same, said plugged end having a notch, a plurality of apertured disks rotatably mounted between said shaft and plugged end, the apertures of said disks being normally out. of register with each other, said shaft having a member adapted, on turning,'of the shaft, to enter and aline said apertures and pass through the alined apertures and into said notch, whereby to couple said shaft to said barrel, said barrel having a cam slot, a pin extending from said second named member into said cam slot, and a spring urging said second named member towards said disks, said cam slot being shaped to guide said second named member towards and away from the plugged end of said barrel on turning of said shaft.

7. In a lock mechanism, a rotatably mount; ed barrel, an operating shaft rotatably mounted in one end thereof, the other end of the barrel being plugged and adapted for coupling to a lock to operate the same, said plugged end having a notch, a plurality of apertured disks rotatably mounted between said shaft, and plugged end, the apertures of said disks being normally out of register with each other, said shaft having a member adapted, on turning of the shaft, to enter and aline said apertures and pass through the alined apertures and into said notch, whereby to couple said shaft to said barrel, said barrel having a circumferential slot in its wall, lugs extending from said disks into said slot and movable therein, and a spring acting on said disks to move said lugs against the ends of said slots and to effect the non-registering relation of said apertures.

8. In a lock mechanism, a rotatably mounted barrel, an operating shaft rotatably mounted in one end thereof, the other end of the barrel being plugged and adapted for coupling to a lock. to operate the same, said plugged end having a notch, a plurality of apertured disks rotatably mounted between said shaft and plugged end, the apertures of said disks being normally out of register with each other, said shaft having a member adapted, on turning of the shaft, to enter and aline said apertures and pass through the alined apertures and into said notch,'whereby to couple said shaft to said barrel, and a pawl and ratchet carried by said shaft and barrel and in mutual engagement, whereby the regis tration of said second named member with said apertures may be determined by counting the ratchet teeth passed by said pawl.

9. In a lock mechanism, a rotatably mounted barrel, an operating shaft rotatably mounted in one end thereof, the other end of the barrel being plugged and adapted for cou-v pling to a lock to operate the same, said plugged end having a notch, a plurality of apertured disks rotatably mounted between said shaft and plugged end, the apertures of said disks-being normally out of register with each other, said shaft having a member adapted, on turning of the shaft, to enter and aline said apertures and pass through the alined apertures and into said notch,

- whereby to couple said shaft to said barrel,

and a pawl and ratchet carried by said shaft and barrel and in mutual engagement, whereby the registration of said second named member with said apertures may be determined by counting the ratchet teeth passed by said pawl, said ratchet having a blank space receiving said pawl in the mutual position of said shaft.

10. In a lock mechanism, a rotatably mounted barrel, an operating shaft rotatably mounted in one end thereof, the other end of the barrel being plugged and adapted for coupling to a lock to operate the same, said plugged end having a notch, a plurality of apertured disks rotatably mounted between said shaft and plugged end, the apertures of said disks being normally out of register with each other, said shaft having a member adapted, on turning of the shaft, to enter and aline said apertures and pass through the alined apertures and'into said notch, whereby to couple said shaft to said barrel, one wall of said notch being parallel to the axis of said shaft and the opposite Wall being inclined thereto, whereby said shaft may drive said barrel in only one direction, said barrel having a cam slot, a pin extending from sa d second named member into said cam slot, and a spring urging said second named member towards said disks, said cam slot being shaped to guide said second named member towards and away from the plugged end of said barrel on turning of said shaft.

- 11. In a lock mechanism, a rotatably mounted barrel, an operating shaft rotatably mounted in one end thereof, the other end'of the barrel being plugged and adapted for coupling to a lock to operate the same, said plugged end having a notch, a plurality of aperture'd disks rotatably mounted between said shaft and plugged end, the apertures of said disks being normally out of register with each other, said shaft having a member adapted, on turning of the shaft, to enter and aline said apertures and pass through the alined apertures and into said notch, whereby to couple said shaft to said barrel, said barrel having a circumferential slot in its wall, lugs extending from said disks into said slot and movable therein, and a spring acting on said disks to move said lugs against the ends of said slots and to effect the non-registering relation of said apertures, said disks having a combined thickness greater than the width of said slot.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM J. BUETTN 

